Community interpretations of fishing outside legal regulations: a case study from Northwest Russia

Salmon fishing has become a key local resource in several villages on the White Sea coast as a result of post-socialist transformations in Russia. Management of this resource was heavily regulated by the state during Soviet times. The situation changed after the collapse of the socialist regime, when fishing for salmon individually became more easily available. Depending on whether they are local or incomers, people tend to ascribe different values to salmon as a resource. Both groups are involved in the commodification of salmon. Incomers, however, tend to focus more on a commercial meaning of salmon. Although local people also ascribe high commercial value to salmon, they attribute noncommercial meanings to it at the same time. Local people share fishing resources with others more generously compared to incomers. In this paper I look at the difference in meanings ascribed to salmon by local people and incomers, as it reveals itself in people’s attitudes toward fishing outside legal regulations.